FLEX

Minimally invasive surgery for bowel polyps.

Researchers at St Mark’s Hospital, including Mr Andrew Currie and Professor Robin Kennedy, have pioneered a novel, more minimally invasive technique for removing bowel polyps (small growths in the inner lining of the bowel). Bowel cancer screening identifies an increasing number of benign, but precancerous colon (large bowel) polyps. Traditionally surgery has involved removal of large sections of the bowel using endoscopic methods which can result in, sometimes serious, complications for around a third of patients.

This study will use the FLEX surgical procedure which combines the use of a telescope (colonoscope) and keyhole surgery to remove only a folded disc of bowel containing the polyp on a number of patients. The study will assess whether the operations are successful, patients develop complications and when FLEX is most appropriate. If the results of this research is successful patients with bowel polyps, and maybe even bowel cancer, could avoid some of the risks of major surgery.

Mr Andrew Currie will be the Pelican Research Fellow at St Marks for the duration of the study.